Bill to fund $25M for northern commission advances

A bill that provides $25 million for a commission that supports economic development projects in northern New England and New York is a step closer to approval.

Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, said the panel on Friday advanced a bill containing the provision for the Northern Border Regional Commission. It now heads to the Senate floor for consideration.

The funding includes $4 million for initiatives that seek to address the decline in forest-economies through the region and $500,000 for the State Capacity Grant Program, which was included in legislation incorporated in the 2018 Farm Bill.

Collins said the provision would support some of the most economically disadvantaged areas of Maine and neighboring states.

The commission covers northern and central Maine, northern New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont.